COVID-19

Here you will find the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines and how they impact long-term care. We are committed to educating residents, employees and the general public about the importance of vaccines in limiting the further spread of this deadly virus. Resources from the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) were used in creating this page.

Science Brief: Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant | CDC

Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science | CDC

Why Were Long-Term Care Residents & Staff Being Made First Priority for COVID-19 Vaccines?

• The average age of residents in long-term care facilities is over 80 years old. Most individuals have underlying health conditions, and some have multiple chronic conditions. According to CDC data, the risk of mortality from COVID-19 in this age group is 630 times higher than those 18-29 years old.

Are COVID-19 Vaccines Being Mandated?

• On November 3, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published guidance mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for workers at Medicare/Medicaid provider types that have Conditions or Requirements of Participation. This included almost all levels of health care, including but not limited to, skilled nursing facilities, other nursing facilities, hospitals, rehab providers, hospices, home health agencies, and ICFs.
• On November 30, 2021, a federal district court in Louisiana ordered CMS to temporarily pause efforts in all states to enforce this mandate. The Louisiana court ordered the enforcement be paused while it decides whether the mandate was legally issued and whether it violates the U.S. Constitution.
• Prior to the court-ordered pause, CMS was requiring that by December 5, 2021, all health care workers at Medicare/Medicaid provider types receive the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna) or a single dose vaccine (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services, and that by January 5, 2022, all health care workers receive a complete vaccination series (two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine), except for those granted exemptions, or those whom COVID-19 vaccination was temporarily delayed as recommended by the CDC due to clinical precautions and considerations.
• Now that enforcement of the CMS mandate has been paused by a federal court, our facility is also temporarily pausing the enforcement of the December 5th and January 4th deadlines until the court decides whether the mandate is legal.
  • If the federal court ultimately determines the vaccine mandate is legal and can be enforced by CMS, our facility will enforce whatever new vaccine deadlines are set by CMS.

Is Our Facility Receiving Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson?

• Our facility received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from Moderna for initial vaccination clinics in late 2020/early 2021.
• As we host and schedule vaccine maintenance clinics, we will likely receive vaccines from all three distributors.

What is an mRNA Vaccine?

• To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines! Instead, these vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
• mRNA technology is new in vaccine production but has been used and studied in cancer treatment for more than 10 years. It has played a key role in the advancement of cancer research.
• Moderna & Pfizer are mRNA vaccines.

Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe?

• YES! Safety was the most important priority in vaccine approval. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) used the same strict standards it has for decades to ensure vaccines were thoroughly and rigorously evaluated. No steps were “skipped”.
• Two independent advisory committees reviewed the results of clinical trials. Members and experts of these committees had no conflict of interest and were not associated with any vaccine manufacturers.
• The Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) advised the FDA.
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) advised the CDC.
• To assess safety, the FDA typically advises that a minimum of 3,000 participants be included in a clinical trial. COVID-19 vaccine trials included 30,000 to 50,000 participants.

Are COVID-19 Vaccines Effective?

• YES! Pfizer has reported a 95% overall efficacy, Moderna has reported a 94.1% efficacy. Johnson & Johnson's efficacy has been reported around 74-78% in the United States.
• "Efficacy" is defined as the ability to produce a desired or intended result.
• Similar efficacy was found across different race, ethnicity and age.

What Should Be Expected?

• Pfizer vaccines come in TWO doses, 3 weeks apart. Moderna vaccines come in TWO doses, 4 weeks apart. Johnson & Johnson is a single dose vaccine.
• BOTH doses are necessary for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. It is important to get the SAME VACCINE as the initial dose, be it Pfizer or Moderna.
• Short-term discomfort – fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and pain at injection site – is possible.
• Side effects mean a body is doing its job and making antibodies. THAT IS A GOOD THING!
• Side effects are normal, common and expected.
• Most side effects occur within 6 weeks of vaccination. Out of the utmost cautious and in order to ensure the most thorough and comprehensive review, FDA requires 8 weeks of safety monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccines.
• THE VACCINE CANNOT GIVE YOU COVID-19!

Is it Safe to Get Vaccinated if You Have Previously Had COVID-19?

• YES! Even if you have previously had COVID-19, it is important to get vaccinated. It could provide longer or better protection against the disease.
• Even if you have positive antibodies, the COVID-19 vaccine is still recommended.

What Do I need to Know About Booster Shots?

• CDC Webpage on Booster Shots 
• Our facility will contact you as booster doses become available and we hold vaccine maintenance clinics.

Where Should I Look for Accurate Information on COVID-19 Vaccines?

• It is important to seek information from reliable sources. Social media is full of misinformation and opinions based on that misinformation.
• Here are some helpful links:
• CDC
• FDA
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Pfizer
• Moderna
• Johnson & Johnson
• State and local health department websites are also great resources for locality-specific COVID-19 vaccine information.

How has The Laurels worked to stop the potential spread of COVID-19?

• Our facility has been implementing and acting on guidance from external agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Department of Health and Human Services at the state and local level since February 28, 2020.
• We have restricted visitors from entering our facility since the national advisement in mid-March, ceased group activities within the building, and have continually monitored residents and screened staff members and essential external personnel for symptoms according to CDC guidance.
• We are continually monitoring ALL residents for CDC-recognized symptoms and changes in conditions.

What happens if a resident tests positive for COVID-19?

• Residents who have tested positive receive supportive care in an appropriate care setting per CDC guidance. If additional treatment for a resident is required, we will transfer to the local hospital and communicate with loved ones accordingly.

Will the facility update me on the status of my loved one during visitation restrictions?

• If you have a loved one who has tested positive, we will communicate with you regularly and keep you apprised of any changes to his or her health. You are also welcome to call or email the facility at any time.
• If you have a loved one who has NOT tested positive, we will contact you if he or she is suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19.

How can I stay in contact with my loved one during visitation restrictions?

• You can send non-urgent messages – photos, updates, letters – to connecttomaplewoodmtpleasant@laurelhealth.com. A member of our staff checks this email daily and will relay your message to your loved one.
• We also encourage you to contact our facility to set up FaceTime, Zoom and Skype sessions with your loved one.

Why hasn't the facility tested my loved one for COVID-19?

• The attending physician, in conjunction with the county health department, is given ultimate decision authority by CDC and makes the decision on who and who not to test. It is not a decision made by administrative staff at the facility.
• It is important that we share our belief that skilled nursing facilities should be a higher priority for testing; that is, "universal testing" of both residents and staff to truly know the extent of COVID-19 in our community and throughout the state. Testing only those who are symptomatic, as we understand now, is not enough as many people who have the virus can spread it without showing symptoms (asymptomatic).

Does The Laurels have PPE?

• You probably have heard about PPE shortages in the news. PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. Early on, PPE was in drastic shortages. We have been fortunate that our company has been able to secure PPE, though we have had to wait for what has seemed like a very long time to receive our supplies. With conservative practices in place as identified by CDC, we have PPE. Of course, it never feels like enough, but we have what we need today.
• That being said, we are in support of the goal to make skilled nursing facilities a higher priority for PPE. In lieu of PPE, items like homemade masks, aprons, lab coats, open-back gowns, coveralls, and ponchos – to name a few – can be used as alternatives to provide some level of protection, with CDC guidance and recommendations. We continue to accept donations of these items in the event future PPE shortages arise.

Why are skilled nursing facilities like The Laurels continually in the news?

• Unfortunately, much of what you hear about skilled nursing facilities (or "nursing homes") in the media today is negative. By and large, news outlets are not familiar with our health care setting or the services we provide, and it is reflected in how they report and cover our facilities. Rest assured, our team is full of caring and compassionate individuals who are working day and night to care for our residents and that is our priority.
• We encourage you to follow us on Facebook to see the many positive things happening in our facilities that often go unreported. Our employees remain committed to "exceeding expectations" even in an unprecedented time like this. Please feel free to leave a positive comment of encouragement or even share the positive vibes.

How can I stay informed of what is happening at the facility?

• Please be sure your contact information, including email address, is current. If you need to make changes or confirm your information, please call the facility.
• Periodically visit the facility website to see if there has been new information posted.
• Watch for opportunities to attend virtual gatherings, such as care plan meetings, family council meetings or other activities, some of which may be held by platforms such as Zoom.
• Schedule a window visit or virtual visit with your loved one. Our staff will be happy to assist you.

American Health Care Association COVID-19 Page

Center for Disease Control & Prevention COVID-19 Information

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid COVID-19 Page

CDC COVID Data Tracker

Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Page

Just The Facts: What Caused COVID-19 Outbreak in Nursing Homes?

New York Times COVID-19 Tracker

Health Care Association of Michigan COVID-19 Page

June 15 MDHHS Emergency Order on Skilled Nursing Facility Testing

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Page

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo in September 2020, revised November 2021, with directives concerning nursing home visitation. Whereas previous versions of the memo outlined certain parameters for restricting visitation at nursing homes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the November 2021 update eliminates most of these restrictions.

VISITORS - What to Know Prior to Arriving for a Visit

• Indoor visitation is allowed for all residents.
• Vaccination status does not affect the ability to visit.
• However, the best and most proven way to keep your loved one in our facility safe is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible!
• Visitors must be willing and able to:
• Wear a face covering for the duration of their visit. The facility can provide visitors with a new surgical mask upon arrival.
• Follow hand hygiene requirements.
• Observe appropriate physical distancing for the duration of their visit.
• Visitors are encouraged to contact our facility prior to arriving for a visit. Whenever possible, we do ask that visitors observe our recommended visiting hours.
• For more information on recommended visiting hours, please contact our facility.
• If you need to visit at a time outside of recommended visiting hours, please, whenever possible, contact our facility so we can make arrangements.
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to share their vaccination status with our facility and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival.
• Although CMS does NOT recommend, visits are allowed for all residents even if they are in transmission-based precautions or quarantine, or if an outbreak investigation is underway at the facility.
• Visitors for residents in transmission-based precautions or quarantine will be required to wear all PPE (N-95 mask, face shield, gloves, and gown) and physical distance for entire visit.
• Visiting during an outbreak investigation or visiting a resident in transmission-based precautions or quarantine puts the visitor at increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
• Compassionate care visits are always allowed, but with the full opening of routine visitation, there are few circumstances where a purely compassionate visit would apply.

VISITORS - What You Should Know Upon Arrival

• Visitors will be screened for temperature and signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
• If a visitor has a temperature at or above 100 degrees, exhibits any symptoms of the virus, has recently tested positive for COVID-19, or currently meets the criteria for quarantine, he or she will not be permitted to enter the facility.
• Visitors must provide legal federal or state identification upon screening. A telephone number will also be required.
• Visitors must complete required education and attestation prior to their initial visit.

VISITORS - What to Expect During Your Visit

• Per CMS, in-room visitation (rather than visits in common areas) is preferred whenever possible to mitigate potential risk to other residents.
• Poor behavior by visitors and disregard for state or Federal orders is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
• Failure to adhere to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention will result in termination of the visit.
• Food and drink may be brought to a visit but should not be shared.
• Smoking is not permitted during a visit.
• Large gatherings of visitors should be avoided.
• To ensure smooth and timely functioning of the visitation process, please do not engage facility staff with your concerns during your visit.
• If you have questions about the established CMS guidelines, please complete your visit and address these concerns in an email or telephone call to the facility administrator following your visit.

PLEASE NOTE: A resident has the right to refuse to receive visitors and the facility staff must honor those wishes. If this occurs, facility staff will attempt to connect the resident with their visitors by offering a window visit, or a live video/phone call.

REMEMBER, this is a stressful time! Everyone is doing their best to manage. Please be mindful of our residents, associates, and other visitors to the building. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.